Appellate Division clears way for eviction of illegal structures in Karnaphuli River
The Appellate Division's dismissal of an appeal upholds the High Court's ruling, removing all legal barriers to the eviction of illegal structures in the Karnaphuli River, specifically those belonging to the National Fishermen's Association.
Lawyers for the writ petitioner said there are no further legal obstacles to the eviction process.
The verdict was delivered yesterday (2 March) by an Appellate Division bench headed by Senior Justice Mohammad Ashfaqul Islam.
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Lawyer Manzill Murshid represented the writ petitioner, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), while Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque appeared for the state.
Senior lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokon represented the National Fishermen's Association.
Manzill Murshid stated that HRPB had filed a public interest litigation to safeguard the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram. After the hearing, the High Court directed the removal of all illegal structures from the river.
Acting on this verdict, the Chattogram District Commissioner had issued an eviction notice. In response, the National Fishermen's Association filed a writ petition in the High Court, obtaining a status quo order.
The HRPB later sought the dismissal of the writ petition.
After the hearing, the High Court ruled that there was no barrier to implementing its earlier verdict to protect the Karnaphuli River.
The National Fishermen's Association subsequently appealed to the Appellate Division, which dismissed the appeal today.
